ALAMEDA, Calif.—Northern Michigan broadcaster WWTV recently completed a major IP-based upgrade that connects its new Traverse City studio with its control room nearly fifty miles away in Cadillac.

Spearheaded by systems integrator Key Code Media, the ambitious project included the installation of a new Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station to enable fully distributed communications across the two sites.

WWTV has served the region as both a CBS and FOX affiliate since 1954. It moved into a new, compact Traverse City studio to consolidate operations and modernize its broadcast capabilities. The station faced a unique challenge: operating a live, on-air studio with no on-site engineers while keeping all technical staff based at its Cadillac control room.

To solve that problem, Key Code Media delivered an end-to-end IP infrastructure, integrating networked cameras, audio, video routing, and control systems between the two facilities. At the heart of the communications upgrade was the Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station, which replaced WWTV’s decades-old party-line system.

“The old building was too big, too costly, and no longer served our needs,” said Ben Scripps, assistant operations manager at WWTV. “Our team made the decision to consolidate and move our studio closer to our offices in Traverse City but we had to keep the Master Control in Cadillac. That’s 50 miles apart. How do you make that work?”

Arcadia’s scalability and Dante integration were instrumental in Key Code Media’s design, helping WWTV to route intercom audio alongside video and control signals with minimal latency. This modernized intercom backbone ensures that talent and production staff remain in sync across geographically separated facilities.

“The whole setup had to be intuitive. We don’t have engineers on site,” added Scripps. “Key Code made sure we could walk in, touch a screen, and the studio would be lit for our show.”

“Clear-Com’s Arcadia was a critical part of making this distributed IP workflow possible,” added Jon Rutherford, director of broadcast solutions at Key Code Media. “It provided the flexibility, reliability, and ease of integration we needed to unify communications for a team working across nearly 50 miles of distance.”

The project also included robotic Sony PTZ cameras, Autoscript prompters, Sennheiser wireless audio, Planar LED displays, and a Ross Ultrix router, all tied together through a robust IP network architecture.

With Arcadia at its core, WWTV now operates with streamlined communications, enhanced production efficiency, and the flexibility to scale for future needs, the station reported.

HACKENSACK, N.J.—Located in the rural part of Northern Michigan, WWTV/WWUP recently updated its equipment to assist with the delivery of high-quality live shots in remote areas with the addition of some LiveU gear.

Following CBS Newspath announcing that its was rolling out the LiveU Matrix for content management and distribution for all of its CBS affiliate networks, WWTV News Director Sean Mahon brought in LiveU units for the 9 & 10 News’ live production crews.

Among the products added were nine LU600 HEVC portable transmission units and 15 LiveU Smart mobile app licenses. The HEVC units boosted the stations connectivity in rural areas, while the mobile app offered flexible production capabilities with reporter’s being able to use their cellphones for live coverage.

WWTV says that with the new LiveU equipment it was able to better cover the National Cherry Festival that took place in Traverse City, Mich. As winter approaches, the new LiveU gear is expected to help with coverage of winter storms that hit the area.

In addition, LiveU Matrix is expected to become available at WWTV in the near future, allowing for the station to view CBS Newspath live feeds and use global and national content for its broadcasts.